THE ACONTIAS, OR JAVELIN SNAKE. 69 



The teeth of the Seps are small, conical, and simple, and there are no teeth on the palate, 

 which is grooved longitudinally. The eyelids are scaly, and the lower has a transparent disc. 

 The toes are three in number on each foot, and very feeble ; the tail is conical and pointed. 

 The color of the common Seps is grey, with four longitudinal brown streaks, which, on a 

 closer inspection, are found to consist of a succession of brown dots. 



Two members of the Sepsidse deserve a passing notice before we pass to the next family. 

 The first is the CAPISTKATED SPII^ENOPS (Sphcenops sepsoides). 



This reptile is a native of Northern Africa, but seems to have a rather restricted range, 

 being seldom, if ever, found out of Egypt. In some parts of that country it is very plentiful, 

 being found in the rice grounds, under hedges, and on the roads where the wheels of passing 

 vehicles have worn deep ruts. Indeed, it appears to have a predilection for ridged ground, 

 over which it passes with considerable speed, and is not to be captured without the exercise of 

 some agility. It is quite harmless, and even when caught, struggles with all its might to 

 escape, but does not attempt to bite the hand that holds it. Like many other reptiles of 

 similar form, it burrows in the ground, but makes its tunnel so near the surface of the ground, 

 and in so horizontal a direction, that the foot of a traveller will often lay. open the superficial 

 retreat and render its inmate homeless for a time. 



The ancient Egyptians seem to have held this little reptile in religious veneration, as there 

 are several known instances where it has been honored with the ceremony of embalming, and 

 placed in the sacred tombs, together with other creatures formerly reverenced as types of 

 divinity. 



The Sphaenops has four legs, moderately well shaped, but rather weakly formed, and the 

 feet are divided into four toes, each of which is furnished at the extremity with a claw. The 

 head is wedge-shaped, rounded in front, the palate is without teeth, and the lower eyelid is 

 transparent. The general color of the Sphsenops is pale brown, with a longitudinal series of 

 black dots, and a black streak on each side of the muzzle. 



OUR last example of this family is the TILIGUGU (Gongylus ocelldtus), or EYED TILIQUA, 

 another of the numerous reptiles classed under the common title of Mabouya by the ignorant 

 and fearful. 



It inhabits the countries bordering the Mediterranean, and is found in Sardinia, Malta, 

 Egypt, and even in Teneriffe. Like the preceding species, it is quick and active in its move- 

 ments, and when seized does not attempt to bite. It is a lover of dry and elevated spots, 

 where the sand is loose, and there are plenty of stones under which it may hide itself. The 

 food of this reptile consists of insects. Besides the names which have already been mentioned, 

 it is also called LACEPEDE'S GALLIWASP and the OCELLATED SKINK. 



In coloring it is one of the most variable of reptiles, but the general tints are gray, with a 

 bronze gloss, diversified by a number of white spots edged with black. It has four legs, the 

 toes are five on each foot, the head is conical, with a rounded muzzle, and the lower eyelid has 

 a transparent disc. 



THE ACONTIAD.E form the next family, which contains three genera. The head is small, 

 the upper eyelid is either very small or altogether absent, the body is cylindrical, and the 

 limbs, when present, are very weak and small. In two of the genera, Nessia and Evesia, 

 there are four limbs, in the former with three toes, and in the latter with the feet small, im- 

 perfect, and not divided into toes. The upper eyelid is distinct though small. 



IN the ACONTIAS, or JAVELIN SNAKE, the limbs are absent externally, and the upper eye- 

 lid is rudimentary. The body of this reptile is elongated and cylindrical, not unlike that of 

 the common blindworm. The name Acontias is derived from a Greek word signifying a javelin, 

 and has been given to this creature on account of the shape of the head, which bears some 

 resemblance to the point of a spear. Some writers think that the name is given in allusion to 

 its quick movements when seizing its prey. As in shape, so in habits it resembles the blind- 



